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Apertura 2018 Week 8 Preview: Sunday’s Games

Toluca vs Santos Laguna – 1:00 PM – Univision / Univision Deportes
Toluca (8th) fell 1-2 to León last weekend to give them back-to-back losses. The Diablos Rojos failed to win in midweek as well, where they drew 2-2 with FC Juárez in the Copa MX. They’ll look to get back to winning ways in this one, and they’re traditionally hard to beat at home (last week’s result notwithstanding). Toluca has one of the better attacking records in the league and they’re average two gaols a game at home this season; they’ll look to keep that pace up in this one.

As for Santos Laguna (3rd), the Laguneros drew 1-1 with Cruz Azul last weekend to keep them winless in two but unbeaten in five. They avoided defeat in midweek as well, where they drew 0-0 with Pachuca in the Copa MX in midweek. Santos has a bit of a mixed record on the road so far, though, where they’re 1-1-1. But they’re just three points out of first place and they’ll be looking for a win in this one against a Toluca side that’s been on a bit of a slide as of late.

Lobos BUAP vs América – 5:00 PM – Univision Deportes
Lobos BUAP (17th) fell 2-0 to Querétaro last weekend to extend their losing streak to three games and their winless streak to five. More worringly for Lobos, they’re rooted to the foot of the relegation standings. They’ll need to get back to winning ways sooner rather than later, but to do that they’re going to need to step up their goal-scoring. The Licántropos have managed just four goals in seven games, while conceding 10, which is hardly a recipe for success. But they’ll look to take advantage of an opponent that, unlike Lobos, had a midweek game, and that is also missing a pair of players due to suspension.

As for América (5th), the Águilas drew 2-2 with Pumas UNAM in the Clásico Capitalino last weekend, a decent result given América finished the game with just nine men. That draw keeps América winless in three overall, though, although they did pick up a 3-1 win against Dorados de Sinaloa in the Copa MX in midweek. They’ll be without the suspended Roger Martínez and Bruno Valdez for this one, but they’ll feel confident in taking on a struggling opponent despite those absences.